Fish Studies

Adult salmon return from the ocean to
spawn in freshwater streams. Depending on the salmon species, adults are
usually between three and five years old when they return to reproduce. Once
they spawn, they usually die within a week. The adult salmon carcasses play
a crucial role in the aquatic food web by providing essential nutrients to
the stream. These nutrients feed plants and macro invertebrates which in
turn feed young fish in the spring. The City of Bellingham Natural
Resources Division conducts spawning surveys in Baker, Squalicum, Whatcom,
Padden, and Cemetery creeks. In fall and winter, spawning fish are monitored
by walking surveys. In spring, out-migrating juvenile fish are monitored
using smolt traps.

Spawner Surveys

Spawner surveys are conducted to better understand how, when and where salmon
use our streams. This information allows the City to be a good steward of
the salmon habitat that weaves throughout Bellingham. When conducting a
survey, surveyors walk upstream while recording the number and species of
live and dead fish. Surveyors also record the location of redds (nests) and
determine which species made the redd. The surveys are conducted once every
7-10 days through the spawning season (September â€“ March). Surveys also
assess potential blockages to fish passage.

Padden
Creek

Two reaches of Padden Creek were surveyed during 2007-2008. The first began
upstream of the culvert on 24th street and Old Fairhaven Parkway and
continued to the culvert on 30th street that runs under Old Fairhaven
Parkway. This site is restricted due impassable downstream culvert. The
second survey occurred in Fairhaven Park, starting at the west edge of the
park and continuing to the fish ladder. Both reaches are 0.2 miles long.
Previous surveys began upstream of the culvert on Harris Avenue and
continued to the culvert running under Fairhaven Parkway. The survey reach
was 0.8 miles long. Padden creek is a great place to see Coho,
Chinook, Chum and Steelhead, as well as resident and sea-run Cutthroat
Trout.

Squalicum Creek

The 2007-2008 spawning surveys began at the Eldridge Street bridge running
above Squalicum Parkway and continued to the culvert running under Squalicum
Parkway. The reach length is 0.5 miles. Previous surveys started at the
railroad bridge just upstream of Roeder Avenue and continued to the sand
stone outcropping in Cornwall Park. The surveys reach was 1.8 river miles
long. When conducting trout surveys, the survey reach continues to the
beaver dam at river mile 2.0. The Squalicum Creek system supports
Coho, Chum, Steelhead, Cutthroat and Pink Salmon.

Baker Creek

In 2007-2008, the survey reach started at the culvert underneath the road
accessing the Bayfield Mobile Home Court south of Telegraph Road and
continued 550 feet to the upstream end of the riparian restoration site,
encompassing a distance of 0.2 miles. Previous surveys of Baker Creek
started from the confluence with Squalicum Creek to the north side of
Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Baker Creek supports Coho and Chum Salmon.

Whatcom Creek

For
2007-2008, the survey reach began at the Whatcom Creek sewer crossing east
of the I-5 highway (River mile 1.2) and continued to a set of falls east of
Woburn Street bridge (River mile 2.5). However, due to high flows and
visibility most of the survey reach was ended at the Valencia Street bridge
(River mile 2.0). The survey reach ranged from 0.8 to 0.5 miles. Past
surveys started under the southbound I-5 Bridge (River mile 1.0) and
continued to Woburn Street Bridge (River mile 1.9). That survey reach was
0.9 river miles long. Whatcom Creek supports Chinook, Coho, Chum,
Pink, Steelhead, and Cutthroat species.

Cemetery Creek

In 2007-2008, the second year of spawning surveys were completed for the
recently created pond/stream network at the north end of Cemetery Creek. The
survey began at the mouth of Cemetery Creek and continued east and south to
end of the restoration site. The entire survey length was 0.5 miles. Prior
to 2006, there were no spawner surveys for this site. A Chinook
carcass and a possible coho were seen in Cemetery Creek during 2007-2008.

Chuckanut Creek

The bridge that crosses the creek in Arroyo Park is a great place to observe
adult salmon coming to spawn and juvenile salmon heading to sea. This creek,
with the largest visible run of Chum, is an exciting place for visitors to
catch a glimpse of spawning salmon in a beautiful natural setting. An
agreement with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was established in
2001, splitting the responsibility for the survey reach into two segments.
The City of Bellingham does not currently complete spawner surveys on
Chuckanut Creek. The past survey reach began at the estuary and continued
for 2.1 river miles to the waterfalls above Lake Samish Road, which marks
the end of available spawning habitat. Chuckanut Creek supports Coho,
Chinook, Chum, Steelhead, and Cutthroat Trout.

Smolt Trap Surveys

A
"smolt" is one of the life stages of a juvenile salmon. This life stage
occurs when the juvenile salmon begins its migration from freshwater to the
estuary and adjusts to living in saltwater. Different Pacific salmon species
spend different amounts of time rearing in freshwater. For example, Coho
salmon spend one to two years rearing in freshwater after they emerge from
the gravel as fry. They reach about 50-100 millimeters in size before they
smolt and begin migration to the estuary. The timing of this movement
correlates with spring freshets (high water flow from snow melt or spring
rains).

A
smolt trap is a standardized method of quantifying how many fish are moving
through a water system. The trap is designed to capture juvenile
out-migrating fish during the spring. The trap is a stream-wide V-shaped
corral that points downstream. The structure funnels fish into the vertex
and box while allowing flow to continue downstream. The holding box is used
so fish can be safely held onsite until they are identified and released. An
upstream trap/pipe is installed to allow passage of spawning fish. The traps
are checked multiple times daily, with fish species identified and counted.

During the winter of 2006-2007 one smolt trap was installed in Cemetery
Creek. This trap was located in the Cemetery Creek restoration site, just
south of Whatcom Creek. The smolt trap was used to document seasonal use of
constructed habitats by juvenile salmonids in the newly created Cemetery
Creek restoration site. Smolt traps were checked at least twice daily from
mid-March through mid-June.